World Music Day celebrations at The Heritage on June 21

As part of World Music Day (WMD), the Symphony Academy of Music and Musicians Guild has various local artists and guest band in store to mark the day at The Heritage in Kohima on June 21 from 4:30 pm onwards.

Addressing the media persons at Symphony Café, in Kohima on June 14, the Guild Association members informed that the fourth edition of WMD expects a turn-out of around 2000-3000 audiences, adding that the event have one of the best line ups.

Interestingly, the WMD is coinciding with the first Nagaland Music Industry Stakeholders Conclave, this year. At this, Melekhoto Pucho, director of Symphony Academy of Music clarified they have ‘no complaints’ and it is not a competition.

In fact, ‘the day is a celebration for us, as stakeholders and as musicians and local artists to come together and encourage one another,’ he added.

The director went on to add that ‘we want to want to celebrate the day by giving the best we could.’ Being a struggling musician over the years, he said, they are taking the message ‘music is not free,’ to the people, adding that ‘free music culture’ is very popular in Nagaland.

Founder of Indihut, an online platform for North East musicians, Yanpvuo Kikon said that the event is a platform to ‘connect with audience’ and allow musicians to promote the local artists. The event will act as a means to pull the youth from social media life, and come together as youth, he said.

The evening’s celebration has a packed schedule with nine bands and three solo artists. The second runners up of the Hornbill International Music Festival 2018, Ambush band from Assam will perform as guest artist.

Eight local bands from Kohima and Dimapur including Lords of Rock, UDX, Purple Fusion, Divine Connection, Annie’s OK, and upcoming bands—Paradigm Shift and Papersky, and a collaboration of Joshua Shohe and Zebeni Kikon. It will also feature soloists Virie, Lui Tzudir, and Seyievinuo Chüzho.

The organisers have requested the people to participate at a selfie contest by hashtagging ‘I am going to be there #WMDheritage’.

The selfie with most likes will win an acoustic guitar.

Audience of the event will also be provided with free admission to music class, refreshments, wristbands, stickers, badges, CDs, etc.

Soloist Mengu Suokhrie; Fbb Colors Femina Miss India Nagaland 2018, Ruopfüzhano Whiso; and Yanpvuo Kikon will host the evening show.

The event partners are The Heritage and Imprint while Symphony Café, Go-Getters, Kros College, Kohima, Alder College, Bentosh, Synergy Group enterprise, Alder Retreat, Unitex Poweline, Dream Café are the sponsors and partners of the event.

(Our Correspondent)